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Hundreds of thousands of protesters demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ouster marched on Sunday in the Yemeni capital, raising tensions as troops deployed to try to prevent mass protests.

Security forces closed off all access routes to the capital from Saturday afternoon, while armed civilians loyal to the veteran president also took to Sanaa's streets, according to AFP.

"The people want to march on the (presidential) palace," demonstrators chanted.

But in an apparent bid to avoid a confrontation with Saleh loyalists, demonstrators marched in a part of northern Sanaa that is guarded by an armored division led by a general who has defected to the opposition.

The marchers started off from University Square - now dubbed Change Square by protesters - sticking to nearby streets and within the area controlled by the general's troops.

But a small group of demonstrators clashed with Saleh loyalists after they split off from the main procession and headed to Asser Roundabout close to government departments.

Four protesters were wounded, including two by gunfire, organizers said.

Sanaa has been left without electricity since Saturday afternoon, and most petrol stations in the capital have turned off the taps, semi-paralyzing the capital.

The massive deployment by troops loyal to Saleh followed an opposition call to step up protests against his rule with the political process deadlocked in the face of the president's three-month-long absence abroad.

Demonstrations were also staged in Taez, Yemen's second largest city and a flashpoint in anti-Saleh protests which have swept the impoverished state since late January.

Saleh has been receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for wounds sustained in a June 3 bomb attack on his Sanaa palace compound.

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.